Late-Blooming Apple Trees

Apple trees are highly ornamental with a full flush of blossoms in spring.

Apple trees (Malus domestica) add beauty to the home landscape and provide fruit for eating with proper care and selection. Considerations when choosing apple tree varieties include winter chill hours -- number of hours from November through February when temperatures are between 32 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit; tree size -- dwarf, semi-dwarf or standard; bloom period -- early, midseason or late; and harvest season -- early, midseason or late. Because most apple trees require proximity of two varieties with the same bloom season for cross-pollination and fruit set, selection of varieties with the same or over-lapping bloom periods is essential for fruit production.

Low-Chill

Low-chill locations, comparable to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9, are divided into zones according to the number of chill hours per year. Zone A receives 600 to 1,000 chill hours annually, while Zone B gets 400 to 700 and Zone C gets less than 500. Late-blooming apple tree varieties suitable for all low-chill zones are "Fuji" and "Winter Banana," both capable of setting fruit with only 400 chill hours annually. "Fuji," an apple variety with good storage qualities, is a sweet apple for eating fresh. "Winter Banana," named for its banana yellow flesh and banana aroma, is also an apple for eating fresh, having a tart, sweet taste.

Heirloom or Antique

"Arkansas Black" is a late-season apple variety discovered in the 1870s in Arkansas. Growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 to 9 and recognized for its deep, dark red color, "Arkansas Black" is juicy with a tart, full flavor, yellow flesh and firm texture. The texture of "Arkansas Black" has led to its reputation as a very hard apple. "It's hard enough to knock a dog down when you first pick it," reports Urban Homestead, quoting one grower, and Heirloom Orchards says apple expert Tom Burford tells of his mother warning him not to hit anyone in the head with an "Arkansas Black" as it can kill someone. For those more interested in eating apples than throwing them, "Arkansas Black" mellows in storage and is best eaten after approximately two months.

Disease-Resistant

"Florina" blooms and ripens in late season in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 to 9. Producing tart, sweet, purple-red fruit over a long harvest season, "Florina" is resistant to scab disease. "Goldrush" is a very late season apple with high resistance to scab and mildew and some resistance to fireblight and cedar apple rust. Tangy when first picked, "Goldrush" mellows and becomes sweeter over time, lasting in a home refrigerator for up to six months. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9.

Extended-Season

"Arkansas Black" and "Winter Banana" apple tree varieties have extended bloom periods, from early to late, making them good pollinators for all bloom periods. Both of these varieties have places on more than one list, as "Arkansas Black" is a highly disease-resistant apple with low-chill requirements, and "Winter Banana" is a low-chill apple variety.

About the Author

For Judy Kilpatrick, gardening is the best mental health therapy of all. Combining her interests in both of these fields, Kilpatrick is a professional flower grower and a practicing, licensed mental health therapist. A graduate of East Carolina University, Kilpatrick writes for national and regional publications.